Automatic sheet-feeding mechanism



Jun 24, 1930. A. ACKLEY 1,767,638

AUTOMATIC smam FEEDING acmmsu Filed June 9, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 351 1W imme 0 m 5 4 June 24, 1930. A. ACKLEY v 1,767,638

AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2awvemtoz June 24, 1930. A. ACKLEY 1,757,633

- AUTOMATIC SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 94 '1928 s Sheets-Sheet3' jwm 351 11M 7 91 6:6

avwwntoz Patented June 24, 15939 UNITE!) STATES AMOS ACKLEY, OFOAIYIDEN, NEN JEREEY, ASSZGNOR '10 .AEEERIQFAN TYPE ECFUHDERS eomrnnr,

Application filed June 9, 19538.

directly to the platen within the limits of feeder viewing it from theopposite side and )arts broken away.

g. 3 is a detail view showing the feedsuction cups in the position ofseizing a sheet.

Fig. l-

Fig. 7 is a similar view on line 7-7 of 01 on a Chandler & Price jobprinting p' ess, without, however, being expressly liiited thereto hesepresses are so well known in the art that only the briefest de scriptionis required in ore-.er to understand Serial No. 284,216.

the invention. Referring to Figure l the press is identified by theframe 1, the rocking platen 2 and the form member 3. 4- is the drivingpinion which meshes with a gear 5 on a shaft 6. The term member 3 isoperated in the usual manner by connecting rods 7, one on each side ofthe press. The connecting rod is pivoted to the gear 5.

The feeder according to this invention comprises means for supportingthe paper to be fed, a sheet separating mechanism, a sheet conveying orfeeding mechanism, a valve for controlling the suction and incidentaloperat- 13 213.361 supporting parts. I

The paper i0 is supported on an inclined table 11 resting upon suitablebrackets nd 13. The paper table is provided with properly positioningthe paper. c means are not shown as they form no part or" thisinvention.

The separating mechanism consists of one or more pneumatic separators orsuction cups which are operated to pick up the top sheet of the pile andraise it to position when it may be seized by the feeding suction cups.

Each separate or suction cup consists or a bracket 1%, Figures 811 adustably secured as by a screw 15 to a square shaft 16. The bracket isformed with arcuate tracks or grooves 17, 17 and on one side a portionof the bracket is cut away as shown in Figure 9 to form a stop 18. Thesuction cup 19 is carried in a nozzle body 20 having arouate rails 2121, one on each side, which slide in the aforesaid grooves 17. A tube 22is secured to the body and communicates with the suction cup 19.

The body further carries a roller 23 and a pin 24. A spring 25 isinterposed between the bracket and the body and tends to pull the latterfrom the position shown in full lines in nigure 9 to the position shownin dotted lines when the pin 24 abuts the stop 18. The shaft 16 iscarried by two separator arms pivot-ed at 28, 28 near the lower edge issecured a depending lever 29 carr ing a roller 30 which rests against alitter cam 31 fast on a bell crank 32 pivoted on a bracket 34:. The bellcrank has a roller 35 which runs on a cam 36 on the shaft 6, see Figure2. Flexible tubing 39 supplies suction to the cup 19.

As seen in Figure 4, there are three separating nozzles 19 carried bythe shaft 16. Therefore, because of the weight of the nozzles and theshaft 16, the nozzles will rest by gravity on the paper and thus theroller 30 is held against the lifting cam 31. The parts are so arrangedthat the leftward movement of cam 31 is wide enough or far enough to theleft in Figure 2, that said cam will never prevent the separatingnozzles from resting on the paper by gravity. On the other hand, whenthe lifting cam 31 moves to the right, it will lift the nozzles 19 to adefinite upper position away from the paper irrespective of the heightof the pile.

After the top sheet has been separated from the paper and the forwardportion of the sheet lifted as indicated in Figure 1, the separatedsheet is seized by the feeding nozzles and conveyed to the platen to beplaced there in printing position against the gages.

Each feeding nozzle, Figs. 5, 6 and 7, consists of a suction cup 40carried by a nozzle member 41 pivoted to a nozzle body 42. The latter iscarried at the bottom of a nozzle arm 43 secured to a shaft 44.

The nozzle arm 43 is in the form of a tube, closed at the top and at thebottom. Flexible tubes 45 and 46 communicate with the tube arm 43. Thetube arm 46 leads to the nozzle member 41 and suction cup 40. The tube45 leads to a common tube or pipe 47, Figure 4, from which latter aflexible tube 48 leads to the valve 50 Figure 1.

The suction cup 40 and nozzle member 41 are adapted to be moved withrelation to the nozzle body 42 so as to direct the feeding angle orposition of the paper while it is being conveyed to the platen andplaced in final position against the gages. For this purpose there isprovided a nozzle direction guide 51 pivoted at 52 to the nozzle member41. The guide is slidably mounted on a rod 53 by means of a slot 54 andas it slides on the rod, the guide is guided in a slotted bracket 56fast on the nozzle arm 43, Figures 5 and 6. A spring 55 is interposedbetween the bracket 56 and the guide 51.

The spring pulls the guide 51 upwards against the rod 53 as seen inFigure 2 and steadies the directive movement of the guide as well as tokeep the nozzle member 41 up against a stop 57 on nozzle bracket 42. Theshaft 44, rod 53 and pipe connection 46 are all mounted in two swingingarms 60 and 61, see Figure 4, which are fast on a shaft 62 which passesbeneath the paper table 11. The shaft 62 is oscillated to swing the armsby a mechanism which is shown in Figure 1 and which consists of an arm63 fast on the shaft at one end while the other end is detach'ablyconnected at 64 to a link 65. The lower end of the latter is adjustablypivoted at 66 to a cam plate 67 pivoted to the frame at 68. The camplate is formed with a slotted cam 69 in which moves the stud 8 of theconnecting rod 7.

It follows, that as the press operates the stud 8 will swing the cam 69and cam plate 67 on the pivot 68 and in turn actuate link and arm 63 torock the shaft 62 and swing the arms 6061 from a pick up position asshown in Figure 1 to a sheet delivery position shown in Figure 2.

The detachable connection at 64 is for the purpose of being able todisconnect the arm 63 from link 65 when it is desired to swing the arm6061 in over the paper for purpose of adjustments, making ready and thelike.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the paperseparating nozzles 19 are mounted between the two lifting arms 26 and27, and that the actuating mechanism therefor is conveniently located onthe one side of the feeder as shown in Figure 2. The feeder nozzles 40are mounted between the two swinging arms 60 and 61 with the actuatingmeans located on the opposite side of the feeder as shown in Figure 1.This is recited merely for purposes of orientation. The parts may berearranged in any suitable manner.

The mechanism for operating the feeder nozzles from the pick up positionin Figure 1 to the delivery position in Figure 2 is shown in the latterfigure as follows. To the nozzle shaft 44 there is secured an arm 65which is pivotally connected to a link 66. The latter is in turn pivotedto a second link 67 which is pivoted at 68 to the arm 60. At theconnecting point 69 between the links 66 and 67 there is mounted a guideroller 70. A spring 71 is interposed between the small arm 65 and thelarge arm 60. The spring pulls the system of levers 656667 in a downwardand inward direction and keeps the guide roller on its guiding cam 72.The latter is suitably pivoted on the table frame 11 at 73 and has aslot 74 which fits over a fixed pin 75.

The guide cam 72 hangs by gravity against a lifting roller 76 carried byan arm 77 on a stud 78. Secured to the latter and depending therefrom isanother arm 79 carrying a cam roller 80 which runs on an actuating cam82.

The parts are so arranged that as the arms 60 61 are swung in over theplaten (the guide cam 72 is in its lowermost relatively fixed positionhanging on the pin irrespective of the throw of the roller 7 6) theguide roller 70 runs on the cam 72 and thereby guides and controls themovement of the link 66 and the swing of the arm 65 which in turnoscillates the nozzle shaft 44 whereby to guide the feed nozzles in apath substantially as shown by the dotted line 85. At. the same.

vey the paper practically parallel to the platen and into printingposition against the gages 81. In actual practise the feed nozzles meetthe platen at about the middle thereof. Adjustment of the throw of thefeed nozzles is made by adjusting the link angularly with relation tothe nozzle shaft 44.

The reverse movement takes place when the arms 6061 are swung in overthe paper. As the nozzle guide roller runs up on the guide cam 72, thenozzles are lifted and are brought into final pick up position when theroller comes to rest on the cam portion 88, Figure 2. During the reversemovement how ever, the guiding cam 72 is lifted and lowered through theinstrumentality of the cam 82, roller 80, arms 79 and 77 and roller 7 6,the latter acting directly against the guiding cam. The lifting of thecam 72v is for the purpose of causing the feed nozzles to clear theupper edge of the platen as the latter moves down into printingposition. In some Gordon presses it may not be necessary to do this. Insuch cases the guiding cam 72 may perhaps be stationary.

In order to pneumatically separatea sheet, pick it up and carry to theplaten, suction is applied to the nozzles at the proper times and insynchronism with the operations of the feeder. It is obvious from whathas been described that first suction is applied to the separatingnozzles which must grip the top sheet and hold it until seized by thefeeder nozzles to which the suction is then shifted.

At this time suction is cut off from the separator nozzles. Then, afterthe sheet has been conveyed to the platen, suction is cut off from thefeeder nozzles and shifted back to the separator nozzles and so on. Thecontrol of the suction is embodied in a suction valve 50 consisting oftwo valve members and 91.

The member 90 is fast on the cam plate 67, Figure 12. The other member91 is pivoted on a common stud 92. The member 90 has three parts 93, 94and 95. The other member 91 has two parts 96 and 97. The parts are allprovided with lateral openings 98. There are three hose connectionsleading from the valve to the feeder. Connection 99 leads from the pump(not shown) to pump port 94. Hose 48 leads from the feeder port to thefeeder nozzles 40 through the connections described above. Still anotherhose 100 leads from the separator port to the separator nozzles 19, seeFigure 4, there being preferably a fixed manifold tubular connection 101between the hose 100 and the nozzles 19.

The movable valve member 91 is connected by a link 102, Figure 1, to avalve cam 103 which has a slotted cam 104 substantially similar to thecam 69 but provided with an off set at 105. The valve cam is pivoted at106 on the cam plate 67 The stud 8 on the connecting rod 7 operates thevalve cam 103 as well as the general operating cam 69.

It follows therefore that when the two cams 69 and 104 coincide, thevalve 50 merely moves with the cam plate 67, but that when the stud 8passes the 0d set cam portion 105, the valve cam is moved relative tothe cam 69 and the movable cam member 91 is moved on the stud 92 toshift the parts.

The operation is as follows: Let us assume that the parts are in theposition shown in- Figure 1. At this time the impression is on, the topsheet will have been separated from the pile and lifted, consequently itis held by the separator nozzles.

The line of suction is therefore from the pump through hose 99 to valveports 94 and 97, hose 100, manifold 1.01 to nozzle tubes 39 to separatornozzles 19. At the same time it will be seen from Figure 14 that thefeeder nozzles 40 communicate with the atmosphere via valve ports 96 and93. It will furtherv be noted from Figure 4, that at this time theseparator nozzles 19 are at a slightly higher position than the feedernozzles 40 so as to bring the sheet close up under the latter.

Immediately thereafter, as the press moves, the stud 8 engages the valvecam 103 and gives a quick movement thereto and through the link 102, themovable valve member is given a quick snappy movement whereby the portsare shifted. This brings the feeder port 96 into register with the pumpport 94,v

while the separator port 97 registers with the atmosphere through theport 95. Consequently suction is applied to the feeder nozzles 40 whichseize the sheet and convey it to the platen. At the end of the feedingstroke the valve is again shifted to release the suction in the feedernozzles 40 and apply it at the separator nozzles 19 to separate the nextsheet.

There is a decided advantage in the valve 1 construction hereindisclosed. Inasmuch as the valve itself moves with the press and feeder,perfect timing is obtained with a minimum of parts and irrespective ofthe adjustment of the stroke of the feeder nozzles.

latter to separate the top sheet from a pile of paper and move it to thesaid conveying suction nozzles when the latter are in their paper pickup position.

3. In an automatic feeder for platen presses, the combination ofseparating suction nozzles for separating the top sheet from a pile ofsheets, means for operating said separating nozzles to move theseparated sheet to a predetermined relatively fixed position, paperfeeding suction nozzles and means for operating the latter to seize theseparated sheet of paper from the separating nozzles when the latter arein the said predetermined position and for feeding the separated sheetto the platen of the press.

4. In an automatic feeder for platen presses, the combination of paperseparating suction nozzles, means for operating said nozzles intoseparating contact with the top sheet of a pile of paper and awaytherefrom to a predetermined fixed position, means for applying suctionto said separating nozzles for separating the said top sheet from thepile, paper feeding suction nozzles, means for operating the same from apick up position coinciding with said predetermined posici-en and to adelivery position on the platen and means for automatically cutting offthe suction to said separating nozzles and apply it to the said feedingnozzles when bot of said nozzles have reached said predeterminedposition and for automatically cutting off the suction from the feedingnozzles and apply it to said separating nozzles when the feed ingnozzles have reached the said delivery position.

5. The combination with a platen printing press including a platen andstop gages thereon for positioning a sheet to be printed, of papersupporting means, pneumatic paper separating means, means for operatingthe latter to separate asheet of paper, pneumatic paper feeding meansand means for operating the latter to convey the separated sheet ofpaper from said separating means direct to the platen into printingposition thereon in accord with the position of the stop gages.

6. The combination with a platen printing press including a platen andstop gages thereon for positioning a sheet to be printed, of papersupporting means, pneumatic paper separating means, means for operatingthe latter to separate a sheet of paper, pneumatic paper feeding meansand means for operating the latter to convey the separated sheet ofpaper from said separating means direct to the platen into printingposition thereon in contact with the stop gages and means for adjustingthe movement of the said feeding means to accord with the position ofthe stop gages.

7. The combination with a platen printing press, of an automatic feedertherefor comprising paper separating means and paper feeding means,mechanism for applying suction to both of said means for separating andfeeding a sheet of paper and a'valve for controlling the saidapplication of suction to accord with the movements of said separatingand feeding means and with the movements of the press.

8. An automatic feeder for platen presses comprising pneumatic paperfeeding means, a cam for operating the same, means for applying suctionto said feeding means, a valve mounted on said cam for controlling thesue-- tion and means on said cam for operating the said valve.

9. An automatic feeder for platen presses comprising paper supportingmeans, a pair of upright swinging arms, paper feeding means carriedbetween said arms, members for operating said paper feeding meansmounted on one of said arms, a cam for guiding said members to causethem to operate said feeding means in a predetermined path and means foroperating the said arms.

10. An automatic feeder for platen presses comprising paper supportingmeans, a pair of swinging arms mounted thereon, paper feeding suctionnozzles carried between said arms, a plurality of interconnected leversfor operating said paper feeding suction nozzles, a cam for guiding saidlevers to cause them to operate said nozzles in a predetermined path,means for operating the said arms and means for changing the position ofthe said nozzles Whilethey move in the said predetermined path.

11. An automatic feeder for platen presses comprising a pair of uprightswinging arms, a shaft and a rod mounted therebetween in parallelrelation, paper feeding suction'nozzles carried by said shaft anddepending therefrom, means adjacent said arms for guiding the operationsof the said nozzles and means extending from the latter and slidablyengaging the said rod for changing the position of the nozzles duringtheir operation.

AMOS ACKLE Y.

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